Manufacture of cigarettes



Sept. 14, 1937. R. F. MAY 2,093,051

MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 25. 1954 s Sheets-Shet 1 \NVENTOR ROWLAND F MAY- 5! ssm vh. M JW A'T' TORNEYS Sept. 14, 1937. R. MAY 2,093,051

MANUFACTURE OF C IGARETTES Fi led Oct. 25. 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2- QWL Sept. 14, 193 7.

R. F. MAY

MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 25, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Rowland Frank May, Middlesex, England, assignor to Filter Tips Limited, London, England, a

British company Application October 25, 1934, SerialNo. 750,010 In Great Britain November 2, 1933 16 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cigarettes and is particularly concerned with the manufacture on the continuous rod principle of cigarettes containing filter tips, wads, stubs, tufts,

tubes or other insertions enabling economy in tobacco to be obtained, and the invention includes the manufacture of cigarettes of this kind wherein the insertion consists of tobacco of different quality or character to that of which the major part of the cigarette is constituted, the insertion being located at the mouthpiece end of the cigarette or at an intermediate position in the length of the cigarette.

The invention has for its object to enable cigarettes such as referred to above to be produced in a simple and efficient manner on the continuous rod principle and furthermore to provide simple apparatus for this purpose which is capable of being readily applied to existing continuous rod cigarette-making machinery.

According to the present invention, in the manufacture on the continuous rod principle of cigarettes containing a filter tip or other insertion, the insertions are first applied to the continuous 1 paper strip and are afiixed thereto as by means of adhesive, and the continuous, tobacco filling fed from the tobacco feed hopper is cut into lengths which are delivered or transferred on to the paper strip between the insertions, the paper strip being then wrapped around the composite filling to produce a continuous cigarette rod which is cut off into lengths to obtain cigarettes each containing a filling of tobacco and a filter tip or other insertion.

In one embodiment the lengths of tobacco filling as they are cut off are applied directly on to the paper strip between the insertions thereon.

In a further embodiment the tobacco filling and the paper strip are fed intermittently and 40 the lengths cut ofi from the tobacco filling are transferred by an intermittently movable transfer drum or like carrier and deposited therefrom on the paper strip between the insertions thereon.

According to the invention, moreover, apparatus for the production on the continuous rod principle of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions comprises mechanism including means for applying insertions at spaced positions to thepaper strip and means for feeding the continuous tobacco filling to a cut-off device by which the tobacco filling is cut into lengths, such mechanism being arranged or adapted so that the lengths of tobacco cut off from the continuous tobacco filling are delivered or transferred on to the paper strip in positions between the insertions on the said strip.

In one embodiment the apparatus may comprise means for feeding the continuous tobacco filling from the tobacco feed hopper to a position at which it is directed on to the continuous paper strip to which the insertions have been applied at spaced positions, and means for cutting the continuous tobacco filling into lengths, such cutting means being arranged so that the lengths as they are cut off are delivered into the spaces between the insertions. Means may be provided for obturating the feed movement of the tobacco filling momentarily after each cutting operation so that the leading end of the continuous filling is delivered on to the paper strip behind the respective insertion thereon. Furthermore, means may be provided whereby the trailing end of each length cut'ofi from the tobacco filling is positively deposited on the paper strip. Such means may comprise a member adapted to engage above the tobacco and actuated in such manner as to engage the tobacco immediately after the cutting operation and place the same upon the paper strip, and such member may be adapted and operated to guide the leading end of the continuous tobacco filling behind the respective insertion.

Preferably the paper strip is led around a roller at a position immediately beneath the cut-off point of the tobacco filling so that the insertions in travelling around an arcuate path up to and below the said cut-off point close up behind the end of the cut-off length of tobacco filling deposited on the paper strip.

According to a further embodiment wherein the continuous tobacco filling. and the paper strip are fed intermittently, the apparatus com prises a transfer drum or like intermittently movable carrier arranged to receive the leading part of the tobacco filling and, after such part is cut off, to carry the same into a position parallel with the paper strip, and means for ejecting the length of tobacco from the carrier on to the paper strip between the insertions thereon. The intermittently movable carrier comprises a drum having a sleeve-like extension slotted from one end to provide a number of open chambers into which the tobacco filling is fed axially and from which the lengths of tobacco filling are ejected laterally. The ejection of the lengths of tobacco fillingfrom the carrier is effected by means f later r. l ke e m nt e te i W in the sleeve-like extension of the drum and operated so as to eject the lengths of tobacco filling bodily from the open chambers and to deposit such lengths on the paper strip between the insertions thereon.

' Fixed inner and outer walls or guide members are arranged to co-operate with the inner and outer peripheries of the sleeve-like part of the drum so as to prevent displacement of the lengths of tobacco from the chambers during passage from the point of inlet to the point of discharge. The tobacco filling carried from the tobacco feed hopper on an endless belt is fed to the cutoff device, by means of pressure rollers.

The filter tips or insertions may be applied to the paper strip by mechanism comprising a wheel or disc having circumferentially extending grooves into which the insertions are applied and a pasting device associated with the wheeler disc and arranged to apply adhesive to the insertions enclose the insertion material in a paper tube,

sleeve or wrapper before its application tothe paper strip.- By such means filter tips or wads made from-strip material such as crepe paper, with or without intervening layers of filtering material and rolled, bunched, folded or otherwise formed to a circular cross-section, may be re tained in formation while the lengths of tobacco are placed between the insertions and the paper strip wrapped around the composite filling produced. Similarly, if the insertion material consists of tobacco, the provision of an enclosing tube of wrapping therefor enables the insertions to be previously prepared, for instance, on a continuous rod machine and facilitates the placing and retention of the tobacco insertions on the paper strip.

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary views of part of Figure 1 illustrating the manner in which the lengths of tobacco filling are deposited on the paper strip; Y

r Figure 4 is a part sectional side elevation illustrating a modification;

' Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating means for applying the filter tips or insertions to the paper strip. 7 7

In carrying the invention into-effect according to one embodiment and with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, the continuous tobacco filling I carried from the tobacco feed hopper 2 on an endless belt 3 passes into a collector tube 4 by which the filling I is guided in relation to a cut-off device 5 which may be a rotary disc or bladed cutter. In Fig. 1 there is shown a cutter disc 5 mounted on shaft 5b. The disc carries a blade 50. which intermittently engages the tobacco rod to sever a length therefrom. In order to ensure proper feed movement of the filling I through the collector tube 4, the latter may be interrupted for the accommodation of a pair of grooved pressure rollers 6 driven through suitable mechanism (not shown) and whereby the filling I is drawn through the tube 4 and fed through the terminal extension 40. thereof. The continuous paper strip 1 to which filter tips or insertions 8 have been previously applied is led around a roller 9 disposed immediately beneath the cut-off point of the tobacco filling and thence passes to the tube-forming device I0. As the continuous tobacco filling I issues from the tube 4a it is delivered, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, onto the paper strip 1 so that its leading end is behind the respective insertion 8. The cutter 5 is timed and arranged so as to sever the desired length from the filling I and preferably also is disposed so that the cutting action is in a downward direction or in a direction which is mainly downward so that the action of the cutter assists the placing of the trailing end of the cut-off length of tobacco filling on to the paper strip 1. In order to ensure the correct deposition of the trailing end of the cut-off length of the tobacco filling l, however, a member Il may be provided whichfis mounted and actuated so that immediately afterthefc'utting operation it engages above theztrailing part of the cut-off length of tobacco filling and positively deposits the same on the paper strip and so that it thereafter moves. in the direction of the paper strip but initially at a reduced speed so that by obturating the flow of the tobacco filling I it ensures the deposition of the leading end of thefilling behind the respective insertion 8, as shown in Figure 4. In Fig. 1, there is shown a mechanism for actuating member II. As shown, member II is carried on bar IIa provided at the opposite end with a slot IIc cooperating with a fixed pin He. The bar II a, carrying the member II, is provided with a rectangular slot I lb, in which is positioned a cam IId rotated by a shaft'IIf. This construction, which effects the desired movement of member II, is conventional and not considered to be novel per se. If desired the feed mechanism of the tobacco filling may be arranged or caused to slow down, or even may be interrupted, during the cutting operation. Furthermore, the tobacco filling may be fed at a mean speed which is slower than the mean speed of the paper strip, the member II serving, as shown in Figure 2, to ensure the eventual placing of the leading end of the filling behind the respective insertion 8. By ar ranging the roller 9 with its axis immediately beneath and slightly in front of the cut-off point the insertions 8 move along an arcuate path at this position and as they pass from the arcuate path to a straight path move up to the rear end of the cut-off length of tobacco filling deposited on the paper strip I. Such an arrangement facilitates the deposition of the rear end of the cut-off length of tobacco in front of the respective insertion 8. After the placing of the lengths of tobacco between the insertions as described, the composite filling produced is Wrapped in the continuous paper strip in known manner and the continuous rod produced subsequently is subdivided to produce cigarettes each containing a length of tobacco and an insertion, the insertion being located at the mouthpiece end or at an intermediate position as desired.

The insertions 8 may be applied to the paper strip I in any convenient manner. For example, as illustrated in Figure 6 the insertions, consisting of filter tips or wads or lengths of tobacco enclosed intubes, sleeves or wrappers, may be ejected from chambers I'Za in an intermittently rotatable drum I2 by means of a plunger I3 and be directed through a guide tube I4 intoa circumferentially extending groove I5a in a wheel or disc I5 50 that the insertion 8 is positioned against an abutment I5b. Drum I2 may be intermittently rotated in the same manner as cylinder II of U. S. Patent No. 1,967,610 or in the same manner as the rotary carrier I of British Patent No. 416,128. The insertions 8 are fed to the chambers I20, from any suitable construction of forming unit I6 by means of a plunger Hill. The insertions 8 disposed in the groove a extend slightly beyond the periphery of the wheel or disc I5 for the application of adhesive as by means of a disc I! co-operatingwith a pasting device I8. The paper strip I is led around a roller I9 so as to engage the periphery of the wheel or disc I and thus, as. the'latter rotates, the

- insertions 8, to which adhesive has been applied by the disc II, are carried into engagement with,

the paper strip I and .are conveyed away thereby from the wheel or disc I5. Preferably the adhesive is applied only to the leading end por-. tion of the insertions 8 to facilitate thepassage of the insertions around the roller 9.

In the case of stubs or. tufts of material in the nature of cottonwooLthese may be applied to the paper stripin any desired manner and fixed thereon by adhesive or by other suitable means.

According to a modification, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the paper strip 1 is guided over a roller 9 so as to extend parallel with and substantially below the tube 4 through which the tobacco filling I is fed, and a drum 2!) is provided, such drum having a sleeve-like extension 20a formed with slots 2% extending from one end so as to provide open chambers which in one position are in alignment with the outlet filling I has passed into the respective chamber 201) to the full or desired extent, the feed is arrested and the cutter 5 is actuated to sever the length of tobacco filling and the drum 20 is moved so as to bring a fresh chamber into alignment with the tube extension 4a. Simultaneously with the cutting action a length of tobacco is ejected from the lowermost chamber 2% by means of a bar 22 carried and operated by an arm 23 which may be actuated by cam mechanism through a rod 24, the bar 23 preferably having a concave under face so as to position the length of tobacco filling accurately on the paper strip I between the insertions 8. Alternatively the feed movement of the paper strip may take place while the tobacco feeding mechanism is stationary, in which case the ejection of the length of tobacco from. the drum on to the paper strip will take place while the tobacco filling is passing into the respective chamber.

In order to prevent displacement of the lengths of tobacco filling from the chambers in passing from the point of inlet to the point of discharge, fixed inner and outer members 25, 26 respectively are provided to co-operate with the inner and outer peripheries of the sleeve-like part 20a, as shown. in Figure 6.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments hereinbefore described. For example, the means for diverting or transferring the tobacco from the belt in cut lengths on to the paperstrip may be otherwise constructed and arranged and the cutoff device may be modified in various ways. Furthermore, it will be understood that where the filter tip or other insertion is, by its method of formation or inherent character, adapted to retain its formation, the enclosing wrapper therefor may be dispensed with and the insertion may be fixed directly to the paper strip. Furthermore, any other suitable means may be provided for applying the filter tips or insertions to .the

paper strip.

. I claim: g

,1. A method of manufacturing, on the continuous rod principle, cigarettes containinga, filter itiiarzorother insertion, comprising supplying a continuous paperstrip, affixingthe insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, supplying a continuous preformed tobacco rod,cutting said tobacco rod into successive and equal lengths, each length being equal to the distance between the insertions affixed to the paper strip, positioning said lengths of tobacco rod onsaid stripv between the affixed insertions, and wrapping the strip around-the lengths of tobacco rod and insertions to form a continuous rod consist ing of alternate lengths of tobacco and insertions.

2. A method of manufacturing, on the -.con tinuousv rod principle, cigarettes containing a filter tip or other insertion, comprising supply ing a continuous paper strip, affixing the insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, supplying a continuous preformed tobacco rod, cutting said tobacco rod into successive and equal lengths, each length being equal to the distance between the insertions affixed to the paper strip, positioning said lengths of tobacco rod on said strip between the afiixed insertions, wrapping the strip around the lengths of tobacco rod and insertions to form a continuous rod consisting of alternate lengths of tobacco and insertions, and-cutting the continuous rod into lengths each containing a tobacco filling and an insertion.

3. A method of manufacturing, on the continuous rod principle, cigarettes containing a filter tip or other insertion, comprising supplying a continuous paper strip, affixing the insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, running a continuous preformed tobacco rod onto said strip between'the insertions, cutting ofi successive and equal lengths of said tobacco rod as it is deposited on the strip to fill the spaces between the insertions, and wrapping the strip around the tobacco lengths and insertions to form a continuous rod consisting of alternate lengths of tobacco and insertions.

4. A method of manufacturing, on the continuous rod principle, cigarettes containing a filter tip or other insertion, comprising supplying a continuous paper strip, affixing the insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, running a continuous preform-ed tobacco rod onto said strip between the insertions, cutting off successive and equal lengths of said tobacco rod as it is deposited on the strip to fill the spaces between the insertions, wrapping the striparound the tobacco lengths and insertions to form a continuous rod consisting of alternate lengths of tobacco and insertions, and cutting the continuous rod into lengths each containing a tobacco filling and an insertion.

5. A method. according to claim 1, wherein the lengths of tobacco rod, as they are cut off from the continuous preformed tobacco rod, are applied directly onto the paper strip between the insertions thereon.

6. A method of manufacturing, on the continuous rod principle, cigarettes containing a filter tip or other insertion, comp-rising supplying a continuous paper strip, aflixing the insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, supplying a continuous tobacco rod, cutting said tobacco rod into successive lengths equal to the distance between the insertions aflixed to the paper strip,

tions'to form a continuous rod consisting of alternate lengths of tobacco and insertions.

'7 An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for affixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, and means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod for delivery onto said strip between the spaced insertions.

8. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for affixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod onto said strip, and cutting means operable intermittently for severing lengths from the tobacco rod for deposition between the spaced insertions.

9. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for afiixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod onto said strip, cutting means operable intermittently for severing lengths from the tobacco rod for deposition between the spaced insertions, and means for timing the feed of the tobacco rod so that after each cutting operation the leading end of the continuous tobacco rod is delivered onto the paper strip behind an insertion.

10. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for affixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, meansior supplying a continuous tobacco rod onto said strip, cutting means operable intermittently for severing lengths from the tobacco rod for deposition between the spaced insertions, and means for moving the trailing end of each length of tobacco into position on said paper strip in front of an insertion.

11. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for afiixing insertions to said. strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod onto said. strip, cutting means operable intermittently for severing lengths from the tobacco rod for deposition between the spaced insertions, means for timing the feed of the tobacco rod so that after each cutting operation the leading end of the continuous tobacco rod is delivered onto the paper strip behind an insertion, and means for moving the trailing end of each length of tobacco into position on said" paper strip in front of an insertion.

12. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper-strip, means for aflixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuintermittently transferring the lengths cut off ous tobacco rod onto said strip, cutting means operable intermittently for severing lengths from thetobacco rod for deposition between the spaced insertions, and meansfor moving the trailing end of each length of tobacco into position on said paper strip in front of an insertion and for guiding the leading end of the next succeeding length to a position on the paper strip behind said insertion.

13. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for affixing insertions .to 'said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod, an intermittently operated carrier having chambers for receiving said cut-ofi lengths of tobacco and moving the same to a position over said paper strip, and

means for ejecting said lengths of tobacco onto said strip between said insertions.

14. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for aifixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod, an intermittently movable carrier drum having a tubular extension provided with a plurality of longitudinally ex tending slots to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced chambers for receiving said outoff lengths of tobacco, and means for ejecting said lengths of tobacco from said chambers when in a position over said paper strip.

15. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for afiixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod, an intermittently movable carrier drum having a tubular extension provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced chambers for receiving said outofi lengths of tobacco, a bar mounted within said tubular extension of the drum, and means for moving said bar radially of the drum to eject a length of tobacco from one of said chambers.

16. An apparatus for the production, on the continuous rod principle, of cigarettes provided with filter tips or other insertions, comprising means for supplying a continuous paper strip, means for aflixing insertions to said strip at spaced intervals, means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod, an intermittently movable carrier drum having a tubular extension provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced chambers for receiving said outoff lengths of tobacco, means for ejecting said lengths of tobacco from said chambers when in a position over said paper strip, and means cooperating with the inner and outer peripheries of said tubular extension for guiding a length of tobacco into said chambers and retaining the same in said chambers while the drum moves from the point of feed to the point of discharge.

ROWLAND FRANK MAY. 

